York County Civil Court Records
York County civil court records are filed and maintained by the York County-Poquoson Circuit Court Clerk in Yorktown, Virginia. The 2nd Judicial Circuit handles civil cases here, covering contract disputes, property matters, judgments, and other civil filings. York County and the City of Poquoson share a combined circuit court clerk's office.
York County Overview
York County-Poquoson Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the York County-Poquoson Circuit Court is Kristen Nelson. The combined office handles civil case filings, land records, judgments, wills, and official court documents for both York County and the City of Poquoson under the 2nd Judicial Circuit. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:15 AM to 4:30 PM. Document recordation stops at 3:45 PM, which is significantly earlier than the office closing time. Mail goes to P.O. Box 371 in Yorktown.
| Office | York County-Poquoson Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Kristen Nelson |
| Street Address | 300 Ballard Street, Yorktown, VA 23690 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 371, Yorktown, VA 23690 |
| Phone | (757) 890-3350 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:15 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Recordation Cutoff | 3:45 PM |
| State Court Page | vacourts.gov - York County Circuit Court |
The York County Circuit Court page on the state judicial website has current contact details and links to case search tools. Note that document recordation stops at 3:45 PM, which is 45 minutes before the office closes. If you need to record a deed or other document, arrive before 3:45 PM. Use P.O. Box 371 for all mail.
York County has some of the oldest civil court records in Virginia, with land records, marriage records, and court documents going back to 1633. This makes it one of the earliest continuously maintained county court record collections in the country. The county is in the Historic Triangle area of Tidewater Virginia, near Williamsburg and Jamestown. Yorktown, the county seat, was the site of the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War in 1781. The combined York County-Poquoson clerk's office serves both the county and the small City of Poquoson from the Yorktown courthouse.
Search York County Civil Court Records Online
The main tool for searching York County civil court records is the Circuit Court Case Information System (CJISWeb). Select York County from the locality list and search by party name or case number. The system is free, requires no login, and shows case type, filing date, party names, and current status.
York County and Poquoson share a combined clerk's office, but in CJISWeb you should select "York County" for county records and "Poquoson City" for City of Poquoson records. The 2nd Judicial Circuit also covers James City County and the cities of Williamsburg and Newport News, which each have separate entries in CJISWeb. If you are not sure which locality handled your case, search each one separately.
For civil claims in general district court, use the General District Court online system. This covers civil matters up to $25,000 and eviction cases. For historical records going back to 1633, contact the clerk's office at (757) 890-3350 or visit the Library of Virginia, which has digitized many older Virginia county records including materials from York County.
Civil Court Filing in York County
Civil cases in York County are filed at the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 300 Ballard Street in Yorktown. Filing fees follow the state schedule under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Claims up to $3,000 carry a $100 fee. Cases from $3,000 to $10,000 cost $200. Suits between $10,000 and $25,000 cost $300. Cases over $25,000 require a $400 base fee.
Civil case forms are at courts.state.va.us/forms/circuit. Virginia State Bar members may use VJEFS to file electronically. Self-represented parties file paper documents in person. Civil court records are presumed public under Virginia Code § 17.1-208. Standard copies cost $0.50 per page; certified copies cost $2.00 per document. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 371, Yorktown, VA 23690.
Nearby Counties
York County is in the Historic Triangle region of Tidewater Virginia. Adjacent counties and cities include James City County to the west, Gloucester County to the north across the York River, and New Kent County to the northwest. The City of Newport News borders York County to the southeast. The City of Williamsburg is an independent city adjacent to York County. Each jurisdiction maintains its own civil court records.